Cell door locking and operating mechanism



Dec. 15, 1931. J, WHITE ET AL 1,836,696

CELL DOOR LOCKING AND OPERATING MECHANISM Filed May 9, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 l VENTORS /%M4 9am ATTORNEYS Dec. 15, 1931. L. J. WHITE ET AL CELL DOOR LOCKING AND OPERATING MECHANISM Filed May 9. 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet M QNS INVENINSR azJwgfilooal BY/j;%w iTTORNEY y Dec. 15, 1931. J WHITE ET AL CELL DOOR LOCKING AND OPERATING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet Filed May 9, 1930 INVENTORS LJW/u'k w azJzw azwd ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 15, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LLOYD J'. \VHITE AND GEORGE Li YOUNG-BLOOD, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, ASSIGNOIRS TO SOUTHERN PRISON COMPANY, OF SAN TEXAS.

ANTONIO, TEXAS A. CORPORATION OF CELL DOOR LOCKING AND OPERATING MECHANISM Application filed May 9, 1930. Serial No. 451,142.

This invention relates to jails having master control systems for a series of cell doors and, among other objects, aims to provide a novel operating system whereby a keeper can unlock, open and lock open, or

close and re-lock any number of selected doors by imparting continuous movement to a single master operating member Without having to perform any intermediate operations. The main idea is to simplify and improve the operation of a modern and dependable system so to enable a keeper quickly and expeditiously to release or lock up prisoners without making any mistakes.

Other aims and advantages of the invention will appear in the specification, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: p

Fig. 1 Sheets 1 and 2) is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in section, showing an illustrative example of the invention applied to the master controlsystem of a plurality of cell doors;

F 2 is a fragmentary top'plan of the right hand end of Fig. 1, parts being omitted and other p rts being shown in section;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top plan of the mechanism in 1 for imparting movements to a master lock operating bar and a door propelling bar;

Fig. 4 is a Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation show ing the positions of the links andlevers when the cell doors are closed and locked;

6 is a similar view but showing their positions when the selected doors are unlocked and closed;

Fig. 7 is a similar View showing their positions when the selected doors are partly opened; and

Fig. 8 is a similar view showing'their positions the doors are fully opened and locked open. V

The illustrative example of the mechanism here applied to a row of jail cells having sliding doors 10, vertically movable latch bars 11, a master lock operating member or bar 12, and a master door propelling mem-' her or bar 13. In this instance. the connec tions between the master bars and the msection on the line -l4 of Fig. 1

dividual locks and doors are controlled by selector devices 14 over each door connected to be selectively set or operated by selector rods 15. The whole system isso constructed and arranged as to be operated by mechanism, including a lever or hand wheel 16 and a series of selector actuators or levers 17 projecting through a panel 18 atone end of the row of cells and conveniently housed in an inset control box 19.

The mechanism thus far described generally constitutes the subjects matter of Patents Nos. 1,785,471 dated December 16,1930,

1,785,469 dated December 16, 1930. The former patent relates to the illustrated selector .mechanism; while the latter patent relates to end of Fig. 1) the master lock operating bar 12 is first moved to the left only a short dis tance; then, the master doorpropelling bar 13 is moved to the left carrying withitall selected and unlocked doors. Obviously, the movements are reversed to close and lock the doors. Also, all open doors are adapted to be locked open and unlocked automatically incident to the foregoing operations.

Heretofore, the actuations of the master bars 12 and 13 have been effected either by means of separate levers (see Youngbloo'd Patents Nos. Re. 17,403 and 1,269,244) or by separate actuating movements of a single hand wheel or lever having associated transmission gearing. As shown in the patent of D. F. Youngblood, No. 1,785,470 dated De-' cember 16, 1930. While such actuators are entirely practicable, a certain amount of skill is required to manipulate them quickly. Failure to follow directions may result in disastrous delays, especially when a jailer or keeper is handling desperate criminals. The

main idea of this invention is to eliminate some mechanism which requires manual actuation and mental contortions and, at the same time, to provide an improved and simple attachment which will automatically impart the necessary movements to both master bars or members incident to continuous movement of a single actuator lever or handle.

In Fig. 1, the preferred form of motion transferring mechanism is shown as being located in the usual housing above the cell gratings and between the first and second cell doors. For convenience, it is mounted on a supporting bracket in form of a structural angle having one flange secured to the bottom wall 21 of the housing. A 'T-shaped rocker member having a short arm 22 connected at its end to the master bar 12 is shown as being pivoted to rock on a horizontal shaft 23 through the bracket 20 and also a small angle bracket 24 (Fig. 4;). The arrangement is such that, when the arm 22 rocks or swings to the left, it will move the master locking bar sutliciently far to unlock all selected doors. The other arm of the T-shaped rockor is shown as being in the form of a channel member 25 (Figs. 3 and 4) to which the arm 22 is suitably secured, the open side of the channel facing the bracket 20 and the master door propelling bar being on the opposite side of the bracket.

To provide means for rocking the rocker member, a floating bell crank 26 is shown as being pivotally connected at its elbow to the master propelling bar13 by means of a shaft 27 through said bar projecting through a longitudinal slot 28 in the bracket 20 and only part way into the channel of the arm 25. The shaft preferably has a flanged rollor 29 to work in the slotand channel. The upper flange of the channel member 25 is cut away at 30 to permit the arm to rock about its own pivot or axis to the positions indicated iirFigs. 1 and 5 when all doors are closed and locked. The other arm of the bell crank 26 has a fixed pin 31 normally projecting through an arcuate bayonet or locking slot 32 at the right hand end of the longitudinal slot 28 in the bracket and also into the bottom of the channel in the arm 25. This pin is also shown as having a flanged sleeve roller 33 working in the slot and in the channel. The arrangement is such that when the bell crank is swung to the left, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 5 to 8 inclusive, the pin 31 will swing out of the arcuate slot 32 in the bracket 20 until it strikes the top edge of the longitudinal slot 28, carrying with it the T-shaped rocker arm and moving the master bar 12 to the left (see the position of the parts in Fig. 6).

In Fig. 6, the channel arm 25 has been moved to a horizontal position so that the pivot pin 27 lies in the channel and can slide to the left. The next movement imparted to the bell crank and the master door propelling bar is longitudinal and to the left, both pins 27 and 31 sliding in the channel 25 while the T-shaped rocker remains stationary. This longitudinal movement is imparted to the master propelling bar while the locking bar remains temporarily idle, all selected and unlocked doors being opened when the roller or pin 27 reaches the left hand end of the longitudinal slot, which is slightly longer than the channel arm 25 of the rocker. vVh en this pin 27 strikes the end of the slot and is free of the channel arm, pivotal movement is again imparted to the bell crank swinging it farther to the left (Fig. 8) and moving the pin 31 into an arcuate slot 3 1 above the slot 28. The pin 31 remains in the channel of arm 25 and swings the arm to the position shown in Fig. 8, moving the locking bar 12 again to its locking position. Hence, the selected doors are then opened and locked open. The unlocking, door closing and relocking movements of the parts are elfected by reversing the movements just described.

The bell crank 26 in this example is connected to be operated by the hand wheel 16, a bent link 35 being pivoted to the bell crank arm and arranged to reciprocate in the housing and operable in either direction by a single continuous movement of the hand wheel. Herein, a horizontal rack 36 is pivoted at one end to the link 35 and is guided to slide in a frame 37, meshing with a driving pinion 38 and an idler guiding pinion 39. A pair of guiding rollers 40 are shown as contacting with the upper edge of the rack to hold it engaged with the pinions. A longitudinal shaft 41 is suitably connected by bevel gears 42 to drive the pinion 38 and a shaft d3 of the hand wheel is geared to drive the shaft 41 conveniently by means of a sprocket chain 44. The length of the rack is greater than the width of a cell door opening and the arrangement is such that it is guided by the spaced pinions 38, 39 and the co-operating rollers 40 when it is moved to the left to open the doors. It will now be seen that a jailer or keeper needs only to manipula-te the desired selector levers 17 before he starts and the whole cycle of operations may be completed by turning the hand wheel first in one direction and then in the other direction.

The action of the movement imparting mechanism to unlock, open and lock open all selected doors has been described in connection with Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive. The closing and relocking movements are effected by a continuous reverse movement of the hand wheel, moving the link 35, bell crank 26 and the associated parts to the right. The left end of the channel arm 25 is shown as being flared so as to guide pivot pin sleeve 29 into the channel. Also, a guide lip 45 is bent or struck up at the inner end of the notch or cut-away portion 30 in the upper flange of the channel to guide the pin 27 into the channel When the door opening move ment is started.

Since the bell crank 26 swings the pin 31 into the bayonet or arcuate slots 32 and 84;, the selected doors which are connected to the master propellingbar cannot be moved by a prisoner when they areeither open or closed. The doors are also looked open or closed by the regular latches 11 so that they Will remain locked When the selcctormecln anism is actuated by the selector levers 17 to release them from the operating mechanism. Thus, the Whole cycle of operations may be completed Without any risk of having the doors tamperedwith by the prisoners. Moreover, the keeper is relieved of the necessity to follow any complex direct-ions.

. Obviously, the present invention is not restricted to the particular embodiment thereof herein shoWn and described. Moreover, it is not indispensable that all the features of the invention be used conjointly, since they may be employed advantageously in various combinations and snbcombinations.

What We claim is 1. A master locking and operating system for a series of cell doors comprising a pair of master bars adapted to be selectively connected to said doors; and a common operating mechanism connected to both of said bars and arranged to be moved continuously in one direction to impart lock actuating move ment to one of said bars and door propelling movement to the other of said bars; said mechanism including means to hold either bar inactive While the other bar is being actuated.

2. In a master loch operating and door propelling system for a series of cell doors wherein independent mast-er operating members are arranged to be connected to selected locks and doors, a single operating device connected to both members and having means initially to impart lock actuating movement to the master lock operating member and subsequently to impart door propelling movement to the master door propelling member.

3. In a lock operating and door propelling system for cell doors wherein independent operating members are arranged to be connected to selected locks and doors, a single hand Wheel arranged at an operating station; and a system of links and levers operatively connected to the hand Wheel and the members and arranged to impart lock actuating movement to the master lock operating member and then to impart door propelling movement to the master door propelling member upon continuous movement of the hand Wheel in one direction.

4. In a master lock operating and door propellin g system for a series of cell doors'wherein master operating; bars are arranged above and adapted to be connected to selected doors and locks, a hand Wheel; a link adjacent to the mast-er bars connected to be moved by the hand Wheel; a lever pivoted to the door propelling member and connected to said link; means connecting said lever to actuate said lock operating member upon initial movement'of'the hand Wheel; and means to hold said lock operating member inactive While movement is imparted by the hand Wheel to the door propelling member.

5. In a master lock operating and door propelling system for a series of cell doors wherein master operating bars are arranged to be connected to selected locks and doors, actuating means for said bars including a pivotedrocker member connected to the master loclroperating bar; a lever pivotally connected to the master door propelling bar; operative connections between said lever. and said locking member so arranged that, when said lever is initially actuated, lock operating movement is imparted to the master lock operating bar and, thereafter, door propelling movement is imparted to the master door propelling bar; and manual operating means connected to said lever arranged to be moved in one direction to unlock and open all select-ed doors and in the opposite direction to close and re-lock all of said doors.

6. A master lock operating and door propelling system for a series of cell doors Wherein a master lock operating bar and a master door propelling bar are adapted to be selectively connected to the respective locks and doors, a common actuating means for both master bars connected and arranged first to impart lock actuating movement to the master lock operating bar, and, thereafter, to impart door propelling movement to the master door propelling bar independently of the master lock operating bar; said actuating means including a manually operable device adapted to be moved continuously in one direction to unlock, open and lock open all doors connected to said bars and to be moved in the opposite direction to close and relock said doors.

7. In a 1n aster lock operating and door propellin system for a series of cell doors Where in a master lock operating bar and a master door propelling bar are arranged to be connected to selected locks and doors, selector mechanism for effecting the connections to said locks and doors; a common actuating system for both master bars including a series of levers and links operatively connected to said bars and so related to each other that separate actuating movements are imparted to the respective bars independently of each other; and a single manual actuating member connected to said system of links and levers and arranged to impart actuating movement to both bars upon belng moved contlnuously in either direction.

In amaster lock operating and door proing system for a series of cell doors whereand oors selector mechanism for effecting such connections; common actuating device connected to impart lock actuating movement to the master lock operating member independently of the master door operating memher and then to impart door propelling move ment to the master door propelling member independently ot the master operating member; and means located at a single operating station connected to actuate both of said master members upon continuous and uninterrupted movement in either direction.

In a master lock operating and door propelling s stem for a series of cell doors wherein a master lock operating bar and a master door propelling bar are arranged in a housing above the se ios of doors, selector mechanism adapted to connect selected locks and doors to the res ective bars; common actuated mechanism tor the bars including a substantially T-shaped rocker member pivoted within the housing and having an actuating arm connected to the master lock operat ing bar; a bell crank lever pivotally connected to the master door pro iellin bar and ada ted to more bodily therewith; operative connections between said bell crank lever and one arm of said T-shaped rocker member arranged to impart rocking movement thereto when hell crank lever is pivotally actuated; r for ln'niting the pivotal movement said bell'crank lever; and a single manually operable device connected to said bell crank lever to impart actuating movements to said master bars in the proper sequence.

10. In a, master lock operating and door mechanism adapted to connect selected locks and doors to the respective bars; common actritin mechanism for the bars including a substa ially T-shaped rocker member piv oted within the housing and having an actuating arin connected to the master lock operating bar; a boil crank lever pivotally connected to the master door propelling bar and adapted ve bodily tl rewith; operative connections between said bell crank lever and one arm of said T-shaped roc er member arranged to impart r okin. movement thereto when the bell crank lever is pivotally actuated; and an operating hand wheel arranged at central station operativcly connected to said bell crank lever first to impart pivotal movement thereto and thereafter to impart bodily longitudinal movement thereto whereby to transmit actuating movements independently to said master bars in the proper sequence.

11. In a master lock operating and door propelling system for a series of cell doors wherein a master lock operating bar and a naster door propelling bar are arranged in a housing above the series of doors, selector mechanism adapted to connect selected locks and doors to the respective bars; common actuating mechanism for the bars including a substantially T-shaped rocker member pivoted within the housing and having an actuating arm connected to the master lock operating bar; a bell crank lever pivotally connected to themaster door propelling bar and adapted to move bodily therewith; operative connections between said bell crank lever and one arm of said T-shaped rocker member arranged to impart rocking movement thereto when the-bell crank lever is pivotally actuated; and a single actuating hand wheel connected to impart both pivotal and bodily longitudinal movement to said bell crank whereby to transmit actuating movements to the respective master bars in the proper sequence.

12. In a master lock operating and door propelling system for a series of cell doors wherein a master lock operating bar and a master door propelling bar are arranged within a housing above the doors; selector mechanism for selectively connecting any of the locks and doors to said bars; a fixed bracket within the housing presenting a vertical flange parallel with said master bars; a T-shaped rocker member pivoted adjacent to the junction of its arms to said fixed bracket and having one arm pivotally connected to the master lock operating bar; the other arm of said T-shaped member presenting an open channel adjacent to the vertical flange of said fixed bracket; a bell crank lever pivotally connected at the junction of its arms to the master door propelling member and arranged to move bodily therewith; said vertical flange of the fixed bracket member presenting a longitudinal slot; a pin fixed on the end of one of the arms of said bell crank lever and extending through said longitudinail slot into the channel in said T-shaped locking member and arranged to impart rocking movement thereto when said bell crank lever is pivotally actuated; and a single actuating device connected to said bell crank lever whereby to effect sequential actuation of the selected locks and doors.

13. In a'inaster lock operating and door propelling system for a series of cell doors wherein a master lock operating bar and a master door propelling bar are arranged in a housing above the doors, selector mechanism for connecting selected ones of the locks and doors to said bars; abracket 'flXed in the housing adj aeent to said bars and presenting a substantially vertical flange; a rocker member pivoted to said bracket having one arm mssaeee nected at thejunction of its arms to the master door propelling bar and arranged to move bodlly therewith; said vertical flange having a longitudinal slot parallel. with the master propelling bar; a pivot pin for the bell crank lever extending through said longitudinal slot and part-way into said channel in the rocker member; a pin on the end of one of the arms of said bell crank lever also extending through said longitudinal slot into the bottom of said channel and arranged to im' part rocking movement thereto when said bell crank is pivotally actuated; said channel member presenting a slot at one side to permit swinging movement thereofwith respect to the pivot pin of said bell crank lever; said vertical flange having an arcuate slot comnnmicating with one end of said longitudinal slot to permit swinging movement of said pin on the bell crank arm whereby to impart the desired rockingmovement to said rocker member; and a single manual actuating device arranged at a master control station and connected to impart "actuating movements to said bell crank lever.

14. In a master lock operating and door propelling system for a series of cell doors wherein a master lock operating bar and a master door propelling bar are arranged in a housing above the doors, selector mechanism for connecting selected ones oi the locks and doors tosaid bars; a fixed'bracket in the housing adjacent to said bars and presenting a substantially vertical flange; a rocker member pivoted to said bracket having one arm pivotally connected to said master lo'ck'operating bar and another arm presenting a channel adjacent to said vertical flange on said bracket; a bell crank lever connected at the junction of its arms to the master door propelling bar and arranged to move bodily therewith; said vertical flange having a lonudinal slot paraliel with the master propelling bar; a pivot pin for the bell. crank lever extending through said longitudinal slot and part way into said channel in the rocker member; a pin on the end of one of the arms of said bell crank lever also extend ing through said longitudinal slot into the bottom of said channel and arranged to impart rocking movement thereto when said bell crank is pivotally actuated; said channel member presenting a slot at one side to permit swinging movement thereof with respect to the pivot pin of said bell crank lever; said vertical flange having arcuate slots communicating with said longitudinal slot to peri'nit swinging movement of said pin on the bell crank arm whereby to impart rocking movement to said rocker member; a hand wheel arranged at a master control station; a

link operatively connected to said bell crank lever; and gearing connecting the hand wheel to reciprocate said link whereby to impart separ'ate actuating movements to the master bars upon rotation of'the hand wheel in either direction.

'15. In a master lock operating and door propelling system for a series of cell doors wherein a master lock operating bar and a master door propelling bar are arranged in a housing above the doors, selector mechanism for connecting selected ones of the locks and doors to said bars; a bracket fixed in the housing adjacent to said bars and presenting substantially vertical flange; a rocker member pivoted to said bracket having one arm pivotally connected to said master lock operating bar and another arm presenting a channel adjacent to said vertical flange on said bracket; a bell crank lever connected at the junction of its arms to the master door propelling bar and arranged to move bodily therewith; said vertical flange having a longitudinal slot parallel with the master propelling bar; a pivot pin for the bell crank lever extending through said longitudinal slot and part-way into said channel in the rocker member; a pin on one of the arms of said bell crank lever also extending through said longitudinal slot into the bottom ofsaid channel and arranged to impart rocking movement thereto when said bell crank'is pivotally actuated; said channel member presenting a slot at one side to permit swinging movement thereof with respect to the pivot pin of said bell crank'lever; said vertical flange having an arcuate slot communicating with one end of said longitudinal slot to permit swinging movement of said pin on the bell crank arm whereby to impart the desired rocking movement to said rocker member; a hand wheel arranged at a master control station; an operating link pivotally connected to the other arm of said bell crank lever and guided to move longitudinally; a rack associated with said link; a pinion meshing with said rack; and operating connections be tween said hand wheel and said pinion.

16fIn a master lock operating and door propelling system for a series of celldoors wherein a master lock operating bar and a master door propelling bar are arranged within a housing above the doors, means for selectively connecting any of the locks and doors to said bars; a bell crank lever piv,

otally connected to the master propelling bar and arranged to move bodily therewith;

means to limit the pivotal movement of said bell crank lever; a pivoted arm connected to impart lock actuating movements to said master lock .oneratin bar; oaerative connec- 1, 2'3 7 v tionsbetween said bell crank lever and said pivoted arm whereby movement is imparted to the master lock operating bar when said bell crank lever 1s pivotally moved; and a single actuating device operatively connected to said bell crank lever first to impart swinging movement to it and then to move it bodily with said master door propelling bar.

17. In a master lock operating and door propelling system for a series of cell doors wherein a master lock operating bar and a master door propelling bar are arranged within a housing above the doors, selector mechanism for selectively connecting any of the locks and doors to said bars a fixed bracket within the housing; a rocker pivotally connected to said fixed. bracket and to the master lock operating bar; an actuating lever connected to the master door propelling bar; operating connections between said actuating lever and said rocker member whereby to transmit lock actuating movements to said master lock operating bar; and a single manually operable device located at a master control station operatively connected to said actuating lever and arranged to be moved in one direction successively to impart lock actuating and door propelling movements to said master bars.

18. In a master lock operating and door propelling system for a series of cell doors wherein a master lock operating memberand a master door propelling member are arranged to be selectively connected to any of the locks and doors, common means for etfecting actuating movements of said members in succession whereby selected doors may be unlocked and opened or closed and relocked by a single operation of said means; and a hand wheel connected to said actuating means.

19. In a master lock operating and door propelling system for a series of cell doors wherein a master lock operating bar'and a master door propelling bar are adapted to be selectively connected to any of the locks and doors, an actuating lever operatively connected to said master door propelling bar; means permitting limited pivotal movement of said actuating lever with respect to said master door propelling bar; operative connections between said lever and said master lock operating bar whereby lock actuating movements are imparted to said master lock operating bar when said lever is pivotally moved; and a single actuating member connected to impart both pivotal and bodily longitudinal movements to said lever and so arranged as to eii'ect the actuation of the selected locks and doors when the actuating member is moved continuously in one direction.

20..In a master lock operating and door propelling system for a series of cell doors wherein a master lock operating bar and a master door propelling bar are adapted to be selectively connected to any of the locks and doors, an actuating lever operatively connected to said master door propelling bar;

means permitting limited pivotal movement of said actuating lever with respect to said master door propelling bar; operative connections between said lever and said master lock operating bar whereby lock actuating movements are imparted to said master lock operating bar when said lever is pivotaiiy moved; means to impart locking movement to the master lock operating bar when selected doors are unlocked and opened incident to the door propelling movement of said lever; and a single actuating device connected to said lever to eiiect said operations.

21. In combination with a cell door, lock operating and door propelling mechanism arranged above the door includin separate members connected to actuate the lock and to propel the door; means connected to both members and arranged to impart successive actuating movements thereto; and a single operating device connected to said means. 7

In combination with a cell door, a lock operating bar and door propelling bar common actuating mechanism connected to both bars and having means to impart actuating movement, first, to one bar and, then, to the other bar; and a single, manually op erable device connected to deliver power to said actuating mechanism.

23. In combination with a cell door, a lock operating bar and door propelling bar common actuating mechanism connected to both bars and having means to impart actuating movement, first, to one bar ant, hen, to the other bar; and means connected to deliver motive power to said mechanism.

24. In a lock operating and door propelling system for cell doors having movable bars arranged to be selectively connected to the locks and doors; a single manually operable device; and power delivering connections between said manually operable device and said bars arranged to impart sequential movements to the bars.

25. In a lock operating and door propelling system for cell doors having movable bars arranged to be selectively connected to the locks and doors; a single operating hand wheel; and power delivering mechanism connecting the hand wheel to actuate said bars in sequence upon continuous movement of the hand wheel in one direction.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own, we have hereto affixed our signatures.

L. J. WHITE. G. L. YOUNGBLOOD. 

